Siphon tube basket



Sept. 6, 1955 W. D. GILARDI SIPHON TUBE BASKET Filed May 19, 1952WILLIAM D. G/LA RD/ INVENTOR HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS United States Patent SIPHON TUBE BASKETWilliam D. Gilardi, Dos Palos, Calif.

Application May 19, 1952, Serial No. 288,680

3 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) The invention relates to holding devices and moreparticularly to a siphon tube basket conducive to the convenientstacking, carrying, and storage of arcuate siphon tubes in nestedarrangement.

It is a well known practice in irrigable farm lands to distribute waterin a multiplicity of furrows. A head ditch is usually formedtransversely of the furrows and water delivered in regulated quantitiesto the furrows from the head ditch. Originally it was the practice tobury pipes or other conduits in the head ditch in alignment with thefurrows for delivery of water therethrough and to regulate the flow ofwater by partially plugging the pipes. Elongated arcuate siphon tubesare now utilized in place of the pipes. The tubes are usually filledwith water by immersion in the head ditch and then laid over a bank ofthe head ditch to provide an end in a furrow to which water is to besupplied lower than an opposite end of the head ditch.

The siphon tubes obviate the difficulties incident to burying pipes inthe head ditch and the How of water therethrough can be convenientlyregulated by varying the relative elevational positions of the extendedends of the siphon tubes relative to the water level in the head ditch.

Although the siphon tubes are much more convenient to use than thedistributing pipes, they are so cumbersome to stack, carry, and storethat their utility is substantially diminished. When a quantity of thetubes are carried by a workman to their position of use, they must belaid down and reassembled as each successive tube is installed along ahead ditch. Their arcuate form makes their assembly for carryingpurposes a clumsy operation which wastes time and is thoroughlyaggravating.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved basketadapted to contain a plurality of similar elongated arcuate elements innested arrangement.

Another object is to provide a siphon tube basket adapted compactly tocontain a plurality of arcuate siphon tubes in nested arrangement.

Another object is to obviate the wasted time and inconvenienceconventionally experienced in the handling, distribution, collection andstorage of siphon tubes.

Another object is to provide a means for carrying a plurality of siphontubes which may be selectively rested in horizontal or inclinedpositions for convenience in removing siphon tubes therefrom and whichwhen so rested retains the siphon tubes not removed therefrom forconvenience in further carrying and distribution.

Another object is to provide a siphon tube basket of the characterdescribed that is light weight.

Another object is to provide a siphon tube basket adjustable to receivevaried quantities of siphon tubes in stacked relation therein.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequentdescription in the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a basket embodying the principles of thepresent invention.

2 ,7 l 7 ,1 l l Patented Sept. 6, 1955 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thebasket shown in Fig. l showing'conventional siphon tubes rested therein.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the basket shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2 havinga portion thereof broken away for more compact representation.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing:

As clearly evident in Fig. l, the basket utilizes a substantiallyrectangular open frame 10 having elongated side members 11 andtransverse end members 12. The side members 11 and end members 12 arepreferably disposed in a common plane. A trapezoidal frame 13 isdownwardly extended from each of the side members 11 in supportingrelation to the rectangular frame.

The side members 11 constitute upper edges of the trapezoidal frames 13which are formed by extending legs 15 downwardly from each of the sidemembers in substantially parallel relation. The legs are right'angularly related to their respective side members 11 and each thereofis substantially equally spaced from its respectively adjacent leg andfrom its respectively adjacent end of the side member on which it ismounted. It will be observed in Fig. 2 that the legs divide theirrespective side members 11 into substantially three equal portions. Abase strut 16 interconnects the downwardly extended ends of each pair oflegs in substantially parallel relation to the plane of the rectangularframe. Oblique struts 17 interconnect the downwardly extended end ofeach leg and the respectively adjacent end of the side member 11 onwhich the leg is mounted. It will be clearly apparent that thetrapezoidal frames 13 are substantially identical in shape and disposedin parallel planes right angularly related to the plane of therectangular frame 10.

A pair of lower transverse members 19 interconnect the downwardlyextended ends of corresponding legs 15 of the trapezoidal frames 13 insubstantially parallel relation to the end members 12.

A plurality of elongated division fingers 21 are mounted on each of theend members 12 in a substantially equally spaced" relation and upwardlyextended therefrom normal to theplane of the rectangular frame. Thefingers are correspondingly positioned on their respective end members12 and one such finger positioned midway between the side members 11 oneach of the end members 12.

An elongated handle 23 interconnects the mid fingers 21 in substantiallyparallel relation to the plane of the rectangular frame. Support ormedial division rods 24 individually interconnect the handle 23 and thetransverse members 19 midway between the trapezoidal frames 13 andpreferably in substantially parallel relation to the legs 15. Forgrasping convenience a sleeve 25 is mounted on the handle 23intermediate the rods 24.

Side guards 27 are mounted on each of the side members 11 intermediatethe end members 12 and upwardly extended therefrom in substantiallyright angular relation to the plane of the rectangular frame 10. Theside guards are conveniently upwardly arched and have opposite endswelded or otherwise secured to their respective side members 11 at thejuncture of the legs 15 therewith.

With the exception of the handle 23, the elements of the basket nowdescribed are conveniently formed of metal rods or other suitablematerial weldably interconnected in the described association. It willbe noted that the welded fabrication of the basket from metal rods isfacilitated and made more economical by the junctures of numerouselements in single points of convergence so that, a single operationcan, for example, interconnect the extended end of the leg 15, its base3 strut 16, its oblique strut 17, and its transverse member 19.

In some instances, it is desirable to provide division fingers 21 whichmay be adjustably extended or contracted to accommodate various numbersof irrigation tubes, such as that shown at 29, therebetween. When thisis desired, each of the fingers 21 is provided with a plurality ofdetent receptacles 30 in longitudinally spaced relation therein. Forconvenience, the receptacles preferably circumscribe their respectivefingers. Tubular extensions 31 are slidably fitted over the fingers 21for telescopic adjustment relative thereto. A leaf spring 32 riveted orotherwise secured to the lower end of each extension 31, as at 33, anddownwardly extended therefrom to provide an arcuate portion 34engageable in the receptacles 30, constitutes a simple and economicalform of detent resiliently engageable in the receptacles 30.

Operation The operation of the device of the present invention isbelieved to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.A plurality of irrigation tubes 29 are rested between each of thedivision fingers 21 in upwardly disposed concave positions. Such tubesare usually of aluminum, plastic or other light weight material butcumbersome to stack and/or carry because of their arcaute shape.Opposite end portions of a first layer of tubes is rested on the endmembers 12, the legs 15 being provided of such length that thetransverse members 19 are disposed in downwardly spaced relation to theirrigation tubes. Successive layers of tubes are rested between thefingers 21 on the first layer thereof.

Where it is desired to stack, carry, or store an extra quantity of tubes29, the extensions 31 are utilized and slid upwardly on their respectivefingers where they are releasably held in telescopically adjustedposition by engagement of the arcuate portions 34 of the springs 32 intheir respective receptacles 30.

The upwardly extended side guards 27 confine the portions of theuppermost tubes 29 intermediate the fingers 21 to the basket.

With the irrigation tubes 29 arranged in the basket in the mannerdescribed, they are in compact association and may be disposed insubstantially horizontal attitude by resting the basket on the basestruts 16 and transverse members 19 or selectively in oppositelyinclined attitudes by resting the basket on a base strut 16 and adjacentoblique struts 17.

It will be apparent that a quantity of tubes 29 contained in the basketof the present invention may be conveniently rested or carried withoutinconvenience incident to any derangement of the nested association ofthe tubes. The baskets also facilitate storing of the tubes and theirready access for use. The baskets are economical to produce, fullyeffective in accomplishing their intended purposes and have proveddurable even when fabricated from light weight material.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A siphon tube basket comprising a substantially rectangular openframe having elongated side members and transverse end members rigidlyinterconnected and located in a common plane with the side membersextended between the end members, the end members being adapted tosupport a plurality of adjacent stacks of siphon tubes in upwardlydisposed concave relation therebetween, a pair of legs rigidly mountedon each side member and extended therefrom in normal relation to theplane of the rectangular frame, said legs being mounted on the sidemembers in positions dividing the lengths of their respective sidemembers into three substantially equal parts between the end members,base struts interconnecting the extended ends of the legs of each sidemember of the frame in substantially parallel relation to their legsrespective side member, an oblique strut interconnecting the extendedend of each leg at the juncture of such leg with the base strutassociated therewith and the adjacent end of the side member on whichsuch leg is mounted, lower cross members interconnecting the extendedends of corresponding legs of the side members and connected to thejuncture of such leg with its base and oblique strut in substantiallyparallel relation to the end members is further adapted to lie invertically spaced positions beneath the lowermost siphon tubes in saidplurality of stacks, said base struts and lower cross membersconstituting means for resting the basket in horizontal attitude and thebase strut, oblique struts and transverse end member at each end of thebasket constituting means for resting the basket in oppositely inclinedindependently balanced attitudes and a plurality of elongated fingersmounted in corresponding equally spaced relation on each of the endmembers and extended upwardly from the plane of the rectangular frameadapted to separate stacks of said siphon tubes from adjacent stacksthereof.

2. A siphon tube basket of rod-like material comprising a substantiallyrectangular open frame having elongated side members and transverse endmembers rigidly interconnected and located in a common plane with theside members extended between the end members, the end members beingadapted to support a plurality of adjacent stacks of siphon tubes inupwardly disposed concave relation therebetween, a pair of legs rigidlymounted on each side member and extended therefrom in normal relation tothe plane of the rectangular frame, said legs being of equal length andbe ing mounted on the side members in position dividing the lengths oftheir respective side members into three substantially equal partsbetween the end members, base struts adapted to rest on a supportingsurface and to support the frame in substantially parallel relationthereto connected between the extended ends of the legs of each sidemember of the frame in substantially parallel relation to their legsrespective side members, an oblique strut interconnecting the extendedend of each leg at the junction between such leg and the base strutassociated therewith and the adjacent end of the side member on which itis mounted, lower cross members interconnecting the extended ends ofcorresponding legs of the side members at the junction between such legand the base strut and oblique strut associated therewith insubstantially parallel relation to the end members and cooperating withsaid base strut to position the frame in said parallel relation, thelowermost siphon tubes of each stack adapted to lie in upwardly spacedrelation from the cross members, said base strut, oblique struts andtransverse end member at each end of the basket constituting means forsupporting the frame in oppositely inclined, independently balancedattitudes, a plurality of elongated substantially straight fingersmounted in corresponding equally spaced relation on each of the endmembers and extended upwardly from the plane of the rectangular frame, aside guard mounted on each side member having opposite ends rigidlyconnected to its respective side member at the juncture therewith of thelegs and a centralportion disposed in spaced relationto its respectiveside member oppositely from the legs, each of the side guards beinglocated in a plane common to its respective side member of therectangular frame and the legs connected thereto and adapted to confinethe stacks of tubes in the basket.

3. A siphon tube basket comprising a substantial rectangular open framehaving elongated side members and transverse end members rigidlyinterconnected and located in a common plane, a pair of legs rigidlymounted on each side member and extended therefrom in normal relation tothe plane of the rectangular frame, said legs being mounted on the sidemembers in positions dividing the lengths of their respective sidemembers into three substantially equal parts, base struts adapted torest on a supporting surface and to support the frame in substantiallyparallel relation thereto rigidly conneected between the extended endsof the legs of each side member of the frame in substantially parallelrelation to its legs respective side member, an oblique strut rigidlyinterconnecting the extended end of each leg and the adjacent end of itsrespective side member, corresponding oblique struts of the side membersbeing adapted concurrently to rest on a supporting surface and tosupport the rectangular frame in inclined position relative thereto,lower cross members interconnecting the extended ends of correspondinglegs of the side members in substantially parallel relation to the endmembers, each lower cross member lying in a plane common to the pair ofoblique struts connected to its respective legs and the transverse endmember to which said struts are connected as well as in a planeangularly related thereto common to the base struts and the oppositecross member, a plurality of elongated substantially straight fingersmounted in corresponding equally spaced relation on each of the endmembers of the frame and extended therefrom in substantially parallelrelation normal to the plane of the frame, there being an odd number offingers on each end member so as to provide a central finger midwaybetween the side members, an arcuate side guard rigidly mounted on eachside member having opposite ends connected to its respective side memberat the juncture of the legs therewith and a central portion in spacedrelation to said side member oppositely from the legs and lying in aplane common to its respective side member and legs, a medial divisionrod rigidly mounted on each of the lower cross members midway betweenthe legs interconnected thereby and extended therefrom in substantiallyparallel relation to the legs having extended ends located in spacedrelation to the plane of the frame and opposite from the lower crossmembers relative thereto, and an elongated rod interconnecting thecentral finger of each end member and the extended ends of the divisionrods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.164,197 Planeta Aug. 7, 1951 972,800 Barrett Oct. 18, 1910 1,029,906Andrews, Jr. June 18, 1912 1,041,751 De Long Oct. 22, 1912 1,531,817Ryerson Mar. 31, 1925 1,559,695 Hatch Nov. 3, 1925 1,838,352 AndersonDec. 29, 1931

